Enhanced online collaboration system for viewers of video presentations

摘要

An enhanced collaboration system makes it possible for viewers of post-original video presentations to collaborate online with others who are viewing the same video presentation at the same time. A collaborate room controller establishes and maintains sets of online collaboration sessions for the post-original video presentation with each collaboration session being associated with a particular time slot in the presentation. Typically, a viewer is assigned to a collaboration session that is associated with the user's current view point; i.e., the presentation time slot the user is currently viewing. A graphical user interface conveys information about existing collaboration sessions to the user to assist the user in selecting an appropriate collaboration session.